Blue tiger (Tirumala limniace) is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It is a relatively small butterfly with a wingspan of 90–100 millimeters; males are generally smaller than females. The dorsal (upper) side of the wings ranges from dark brown to black and is adorned with a pattern of semi-transparent, bluish-white spots and streaks.
The bluish hue of these spots is derived from the pigment pterobilin. High light intensity significantly increases the butterfly's flight activity. The wing surface features a combination of light and dark areas; the darker portions act as heat-absorbing zones, which facilitate the butterfly's ability to take flight.
In cell 1b of the forewing, there are two streaks—sometimes connected to each other—followed by a large spot. One streak extends from the base of the discal cell, leading into a large spot that features a notch toward the wing's apex.
A large, oval-shaped spot is located at the base of cell 2, while a much smaller spot sits at the base of cell 3, followed by another small spot. Five short streaks are visible in the post-discal region along the costal (front) margin, two of which are particularly distinct. Two rows of irregular spots are arranged in the submarginal area, with the inner spots being larger than those on the outer side.
On the hindwing, there is a single streak within cell 1a. A streak, branching from the base, also traverses cells 1b and 1c. Within the discal cell, there is a broad, bifurcated streak; the lower branch is curved or possesses a base resembling a short spur.
At the bases of cells 2 and 3, there are thin, V-shaped markings. Within cells 2 and 5, there are prominent, broad streaks located at the base. There are two rows of irregular spots scattered across the submarginal area, with the inner spots being larger than those on the outer side.
T. limniace of males can be distinguished from females by the presence of a black pouch containing scales, located in cell 1c near the discal cell on the upperside of the hindwing. This pouch forms after the insect emerges, as the moth develops its wings and extrudes these scales. The pouch plays a crucial role in the mating process, alongside hair-like tufts that can be extended from the abdomen. These hairs grow almost entirely from the posterior third of the tuft.
The underside of the forewing is black, except for the apex, which is olive-brown—matching the coloration of the hindwing's underside. The pattern on this side largely mirrors that of the upperside.
The antennae, head, and thorax are black, accented with white dots and lines. The dorsal side of the abdomen is dark, while the ventral side is a pale brownish-yellow, with a white sheen visible along the segment boundaries.
The larva is yellowish-white; the 3rd and 12th segments each bear a pair of fleshy filaments, colored black and greenish-white. Each segment features four transverse black stripes, with the second stripe being wider than the others and branching off at the sides. A longitudinal yellow stripe runs along both flanks. The head, true legs, and prolegs are adorned with black spots. Initially, the larva measures 1.21 cm in length and weighs 5 mg; within 48 hours, its length doubles, and its weight increases fourfold. Pupa
The pupa is green, featuring scattered golden spots and a crescent-shaped marking on its back that resembles a string of beads.
TAXON
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Danainae
Tribe: Danaini
Subtribe: Danaina
Genus: Tirumala Moore, (1880)
Species: Tirumala limniace Cramer (1775)
Subspecies:
T. l. bentenga Martin (1910) in Selajar
T. l. conjuncta Moore (1883) in Java, Bali, Kangean, Bawean, Lesser Sunda Islands
T. l. exotica Gmelin (1790) – United Arab Emirates
T. l. ino Butler (1871) in Sula
T. l. leopardus Butler (1866) in Ceylon, India - southern Burma
T. l. limniace Cramer (1775) in southern China, Indochina, Hainan, Taiwan
T. l. makassara Martin (1910) - southern Sulawesi
T. l. orestilla Fruhstorfer (1910) – Philippines (Luzon)
T. l. vaneeckeni Bryk (1937) - Timor, Wetar
SYNONYMS
Papilio limniace Cramer (1775)
Danais limniace fruhstorferi van Eecke (1915)
Danaida limniace kuchingana Moulton (1915)
VERNACULAR NAME
Chinese (simplified): 青斑蝶
Chinese (traditional): 青斑蝶 - 淡紋青斑蝶
English: Blue tiger
Indonesian: Kupu macan biru
Japanese: ウスコモンマダラ
Java: Kupu macan biru
Marathi: निल रूईकर
Thai: ผีเสื้อลายเสือฟ้าแถบกว้าง
Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium
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